PH.--Other pocopos. Unable to obtain this, their natural sustenance, a great number of pocopos die annually of starvation. Their death leaves fewer mouths to feed, and by consequence their race is rapidly multiplying. F.--From whom had you this? PH.--A professor of political economy. F.--I bend in reverence! What made you think of the pocopo? PH.--Speaking of man. F.--If you did not wish to think of the pocopo, and speaking of man would make you think of it, you would not speak of man, would you? PH.--Certainly not. F.--Why not? PH.--I do not know. F.--Excellent philosopher! * * * * * FOOL.--I have attentively considered your teachings. They may be full of wisdom; they are certainly out of taste. PHILOSOPHER.--Whose taste? F.--Why, that of people of culture. PH.--Do any of these people chance to have a taste for intoxication, tobacco, hard hats, false hair, the nude ballet, and over-feeding? F.--Possibly; but in intellectual matters you must confess their taste is correct. PH.--Why must I? F.--They say so themselves. * * * * * PHILOSOPHER.--I have been thinking why a dolt is called a donkey. FOOL.--I had thought philosophy concerned itself with a less personal class of questions; but why is it? PH.--The essential quality of a dolt is stupidity. F.--Mine ears are drunken! PH.--The essential quality of an ass is asininity. F.--Divine philosophy! PH.--As commonly employed, "stupidity" and "asininity" are convertible terms. F.--That I, unworthy, should have lived to see this day! * * * * * II. FOOL.--If _I_ were a doctor-- DOCTOR.--I should endeavour to be a fool. F.--You would fail; folly is not easily achieved. D.--True; man is overworked. F.--Let him take a pill. D.--If he like. I would not. F.--You are too frank: take a fool's advice. D.--Thank thee for the nastier prescription. * * * * * FOOL.--I have a friend who-- DOCTOR.--Stands in great need of my assistance. Absence of excitement, gentle restraint, a hard bed, simple diet--that will straighten him out. F.--I'll give thee sixpence to let me touch the hem of thy garment! D.--What of your friend? F.--He is a gentleman. D.--Then he is dead! F.--Just so: he is "straightened out"--he took your prescription. D.--All but the "simple diet." F.--He is himself the diet. D.--How simple! * * * * * FOOL.--Believe you a man retains his intellect after decapitation? DOCTOR.--It is possible that he acquires it? F.--Much good it does him. D.--Why not--as compensation? He is at some disadvantage in other respects. F.--For example? D.--He is in a false position. * * * * * FOOL.--What is the most satisfactory disease? DOCTOR.--Paralysis of the thoracic duct. F.--I am not familiar with it.